20 Health Benefits of Owning A Dog,Therapy Dog, Or A Service Dog

Studies have long shown the health benefits of owning a dog. Psychologically a dog’s love can give it’s owner the strength he needs, to get out and walk every day, therefore, losing weight and many other changes.

There are also some amazing things a dog can detect about your health.

Some people wouldn’t have had any idea that they were sick had their dog not given them a clue that something was wrong.

A trained dog can detect lung or breast cancer from a person’s breath! My first thought when I read this was “Shouldn’t we have medical equipment that detects cancer from a person’s breath”! But, the idea of hanging out with your dog and being alerted to being sick, while you are at home, by your dog smelling a difference in your breath is pretty amazing!

A dog can aide in occupational and speech therapy. Apparently, just the sheer cuteness and lovability of a puppy held by a young girl who wouldn’t talk worked miracles in her life. When her therapist led the dog away from her, the girl motioned how badly she wanted the dog to stay so the therapist told her that all she had to do was call her by saying “here puppy” and the dog would come back. Amazingly the girl spoke, she fell in love with the dog.

Many times the comradery and comfort a dog can give to patients will help them to open up and talk about things they initially had a hard time talking about previously. Another therapist had a noticeably disfigured dog from being abused, and when he told his patient, a little boy, the boy was able to open up about his own experience with abuse. Hearing this made me want to cry….

Dog’s can detect prostate cancer. Dogs have 200 million receptor cells in their nose while we have 5 million. Amazing stuff, and therefore, the reason a dog can identify biomarkers of prostate cancer in a man’s urine. There are other health benefits of owning a dog that also relies on the dog’s sensory abilities.

A dog can detect when someone is about to experience a seizure. When a diabetic’s blood sugar is low, a dog notices the different scent. If the person with diabetes has a seizure, the dog quickly relates that to a major event. The dog will warn his owner by licking, walking in circles, barking or pawing up to 45 minutes before the seizure.

A trained service dog can detect allergens such as peanuts. People can have several different allergic reactions, but the anaphylactic reaction in the heart, lungs, or throat are the worst and can result in death within minutes.

Now imagine trying to protect yourself from certain food allergens in trace amounts in restaurants, hotels, schools, friends and family homes, or anywhere you may eat. Furthermore, you do not have total control of every ingredient or trace of an ingredient in your food.

The trained dog and his amazing sense of smell provide their owner with significant health benefits along with safety and giving the owner the ability to be in a potentially threatening environment.

Dogs can help with physical therapy. A child with cerebral palsy can sometimes hold on to a unique collar on a service dog and walk alongside the dog. A dog that isn’t quite as energetic can calm an autistic child while an active therapy dog can inspire a kid to be more interactive. Service dogs and their trainers will provide games for the child and dog that help with speech, sensory issues, calming a child, and strengthening their muscles.

The 12 Other Health Benefits of Owning A Dog

As if the above six health benefits of owning a dog weren’t incredible enough, the twelve benefits below are worth mentioning. If you’ve ever considered a owning a dog but aren’t sure where to start, think aboutPuppyspot.comPuppy Spot helps responsible breeders place puppies with caring families and individuals.
Health Benefits include helping: